Daylilies, the perfect perennial.

Dr. Richard Ilniki
Growing Daylilies

Originally from Asia, Daylilies have adapted to varied climates with all the vigor of native plants. One variety or another will grow in all United States USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9.

Section One: Caring for Daylilies
Daylilies are known in the plant world as Hemerocallis, a Greek name meaning beauty for a day. Why grow daylilies? They are easy to grow and good for every type of soil and most locations in the yard. They can take full sun or partial shade. Daylilies are insect free and disease free. They can be grown in containers.

Some of the most interesting new varieties have a zone of different color or a darker shade of the same color located between the throat and the tips of the flower segments. So-called eyed daylilies have a zone of color on both petals and sepals (modified leaves around the base of the flower). In addition to the striking eyed daylilies, there are many other patterned daylilies, each with a band, halo, or edging of color on the flower.

The colors of daylilies are many, however pure black, white and blue are lacking. Blue is expected to be developed last. A good white is also lacking, but cream comes close to it.

Blooming habit
Each flower blooms for a day, with many buds on each stem. The blooms open either diurnal (during the day), or nocturnal (open in early evening or night and closing in late morning); both may also be extended bloomers, with blooms open up to 16 hours.

Blooming time
The blooming time can extend from June (March in southern zones) to September in New Jersey, depending on the variety of daylily and the zone. Below is the range of blooms and the letters that denote bloom time. The letters are placed beside the name of the variety and tell you when to expect bloom.

The very earliest is from March in south, or end to the end of June in more northern areas.
EE, means from May to June 5 (depending on the Zone)
VE=Very early, June 10 to July 10
E=Early, June 20 to July 20
EM= Early to Mid, June 30 to Aug to Aug 5
M=Mid-season, July 15 to Aug 20
LM= Late to Mid, July 30 to Sept 1
L= Late, August 10 TO September 10
VL- Very late, August 20 TO September 20.

There are also repeat bloomers. These bloom for a few weeks and then come back later in the season. Stella d' Oro is one such example of a repeat bloomer. The labels on a daylily name will tell you about its vigor, time of bloom such as early bloom, late bloom, its fragrance, and variety.

A good daylily variety will bloom continuously for 3 to 4 weeks. By choosing varieties carefully, you can have daylilies flowering for the entire perennial season, 3 months in the zones 4 or 5 to 10 months in the South, zones 8 to 9.

Hardiness

Most daylilies are hardy from zone 6 through 9, where they grow throughout much of the year. Some evergreens are also cold-hardy, but their foliage dies back. Conversely, the foliage of deciduous types (zones 3 through 8) dies in winter even in mild climates. Some deciduous varieties depend on a period of cold weather to stimulate vigorous spring growth, while others grow and bloom well in both the South and the North. However, most are not well suited to zone 8 and warmer gardens, or wherever summers typically include more than 90 days above 86F.

There three types of Daylilies, the dormant type, the evergreen and the semi-dormant. Dormant is the most hardy; foliage turns brown in late autumn and dies over winter. Evergreens are the least hardy; they will continue to produce all year in South, but in the North turn brown. Semi evergreen types vary in hardiness.

Starting new plants
To get new plants you can grow them from seed, divide existing plants, or plant proliferations (like spider plants, a new plant that begins on the stem, which happens infrequently), or create new plants from tissue culture (not for novices).

If you plant from seed, you can't be assured that the new plant will be true to its parent plant.

Dividing Daylilies. You can transplant daylilies at any time. If you are dividing them, use a round pointed spade to cut into the clump. Each transplant should include 3 to 4 fans. Many 3 year old clumps can be separated into 25 new segments.

Proliferation is a leafy shoot that may form on the scape about the time the daylily blooms. It can be removed, rooted, and will be identical to the parent. Sever it from the plant and root it.

Growing from Seed. Make crosses yourself. With the stigma sticking up, cut off the anthers; take pollen from another plant and daub it. Some then cover the flower with aluminum or plastic; long enough to have the pollen go down the stigma. Then get the pods. Tag the pods. When the pod begins to yellow, take it off. Plant the seeds in potting mix. Label them so you know what you did.

Feeding and Watering
Use a commercial mix; like sand or perlite instead of sand. Daylilies like a soil pH of 5.5 to 7; don't go too much under 5.5 or that is too acidic. You can have the soil tested by the Cooperative Extension service to check the pH of your soil.

Daylilies need about one inch of water per week.

Control weeds through mulches or herbicides; use wood mulch. Wood mulch makes a nice soil and seed bed.

Fertilize using, 5-10-19 or 5-10-5 at 400 lbs per acre.

When do you fertilize? Early spring. Too high a nitrogen level will delay blooming, so don't add a 5-10-5 in mid-season. Or use organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion. Or use mulch to help fertilize. It also provides weed control.

Cut down the browning daylily leaves in fall, and clean up leaves to avoid any diseases, although daylilies are disease resistant.

Some places to see and get Daylilies
Woodside Nursery is a mail order nursery specializing in daylilies. It is owned by Marilyn and Darrel Apps. Darrel started hybridizing daylilies as a hobby in 1968. In 1994 They moved to Bridgeton, New Jersey where they have 10 acres of daylilies. For more information look at their website or contact them at darrel_apps@hotmail.com
THIS IS THEIR LAST YEAR AND ARE CLOSING JULY 2007.

Perfect Perennials, in York Pennsylvania.
Visitors Welcomed their garden hours are in June on weekends, in July everyday except Mondays & Tuesdays. They have 3 acres of beautiful gardens to view, thousands of seedlings of potential new cultivars, and 8,000 pots of daylilies ready.